Who cares about the next generation? – Reader’s Feature

As the Wii U kick-starts the new generation of home consoles, one GameCentral reader admits he’s not excited.

Wii U – are you excited?

So, are you excited? The Wii U is out next week and with it comes the start of the next generation of home consoles. This is historically a time of excitement within the gaming community with questions about improved graphics, tech specs and what the games will be like floating around. Except I don’t really get that impression this time round. I’d actually go so far as to say there’s an apathy around the next gen and, as with most things, I think this apathy could lead to some serious problems.

One of the main problems is that I don’t think there is any real consumer demand for new consoles. Which is in direct contrast to the console manufacturers who are probably chomping at the bit to release their new machines. That’s because this console generation has been unusually long and in the entertainment and technology markets (of which the games industry is an increasingly blurred mix) standing still usually means death.

I’m sorry for stating the bleeding obvious in this next part but it’s coming to a valid point believe me. Anyway, the reasons why technology sales drop off over time are simple. The initial hype for a product fades, competition from newer/better products and the ultimate killer – your audience shrinks because anyone who wanted one already has one. But consoles are unusual in that over time they get better not worse.

That’s not to say the hardware improves (though redesigns do help sales apparently) but rather the software improves. Unlike PCs and the almost infinite number of configurations possible when you’re developing for a console you can be reasonably certain that everyone has the same system. Instead of forcing people to upgrade different aspects of their PC developers have a better understanding of the architecture and can get the console to do things they wouldn’t have been able to earlier in the console’s life.

Maybe with the exception of a brief period in the mid-nineties I don’t think there has been a better time for regularly released, high quality games. Across all formats there have been several genuine classics since 2009. Just looking at the release schedule for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 up until March shows half a dozen games with real potential. Does anyone really want to swap that for inferior launch period games?But that’s not the only issue facing the new consoles.

The real question is how do Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo make them better/different enough to their predecessors to make people justify buying them. Previously new consoles’ main selling point has been the graphical leap. However much we might like to think we’re buying it for the ‘right’ reasons like artificial intelligence improvements and how the extra power will add to the gameplay most peoples reaction upon playing a new console is ‘Wow! Look at the graphics.

They couldn’t do that on the (insert console of choice here).’But as graphics start to cost more and more will anyone actually be able to afford to make graphics that good? I would suggest in the long term a graphics arms race would simply bankrupt everyone and it’s not like what we have now is poor. The likes of Watch Dogs and Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes might look great, but are they £300 or more better? Probably not, especially when the publisher claims they’re running on current gen hardware.

This is a big sticking point for me about the next gen. Home console games cost so much to make I cannot see any publisher, with the exception of Nintendo, releasing a new game for next gen machines only. Even if the small userbase all buy a copy I doubt it would turn a profit. ZombiU should tell us if that’s true or not but I expect Xbox SmartGlass and PS Vita compatible versions to arrive eventually. Then there is that other elephant in the room: online multiplayer.

The aspect that has done more to make gaming mainstream than anything else this generation may have already killed the next generation. One little sentence that no-one can change: ‘I bought it because all my friends are playing it.’Whether it’s FIFA, Call Of Duty, Battlefield or whatever, if your friends aren’t playing it then the experienced is diminished. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy playing against random people on the Internet as much as the next man but I think we can all agree it’s a better experience when it’s a group of people you know. And not all your friends are going to upgrade at once are they?

The other thing with multiplayer is that without a decent amount of people playing then it’s also a hampered experience so if both a current and next gen version are released then both may have to use the same sever, assuming it’s technically possible. And again why pay for a new console when the games aren’t that much better?

Ultimately I think the console manufacturers have made a rod for their own backs with this generation. They have given developers all the tools they need to make the best games ever. They have tried motion controls, that while interesting have failed to live up to their potential, and nothing suggests that will change. Graphics will start to plateau if they haven’t already. The extra services consoles offer can be done be done on any bog standard smart TV.

I appreciate this is a very negative feature and I hope I’m wrong. I really do. I want to see the next generation do well as much as anybody but I think the console business model is in trouble.

Businesses need to make a profit to survive and if the old consoles are not as profitable any more, well then you have to do what is best for business. But I hope all the rumours are wrong and the rest of the next gen machines don’t arrive next year, but rather when there is a need for them – when they offer better games than the old gen can provide.

So, next generation consoles. Are you excited?

By reader andy_b720 (PSN ID)

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, emailgamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk.